Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-05-04
Sketch of Rev. DR.. Talmage.

The Richmond Dispatch of April 2Sth
gives the following sketch of Rev. DR.. De-
Witt Talmage of Brooklyn, N. y
"Dr. Talmage was born fifty three years
ago at Bound Brook, N. J. He read law
for some time, resembling in this respect
one or two other prominent Brooklyn pas
tors. After abandoning the purpose of pur-
suing the legal profession, DR.. Talmage
graduated at the University of the City Of
New York, and then pursued his studies
for the ministry at the New Brunswick
Theological Seminary. He preached for
some time in Belleville, N. j., and SYRIA
cuse, N. Y, and subsequently carried on
his ministry at Philadelphia for seven years
with almost unparalleled success. He gath
cred round him the largest audiences in
that city. During the last year of his pas
torate there the church could not accommo-
date one-fourth of the multitudes who be-
sieged the DOORS The pew-holders were
admitted through side door in the base
ment to avoid the great rush of strangers
at the entrance. About the same time
(February, 1861 the Calvary church, of
Chicago, and the Central church, of Brook
| Ign, called him, his people in Philadelphia
| offered every financial and social induce
| ment to him to remain where he was. The
peculiar condition of the Brooklyn Central
church seemed to him to demand sacrifice
| on his part, and he tore himself from the
| attached circle that had gathered round
him in the beautiful city in which he had
obtained celebrity, from the vast and at
tached congregation to whom he had SO
long preached the Word of Life, to become
the pastor of the Central Presbyterian
church, on Schermerhorn street between
Nevins and Powers streets, in Brooklyn,
where he was installed on March %, 1869.
A brief experience proved the total made
quacy of tho ediice to the audiences at
tracted by DR.. Talmage's preaching. The
first tabernacle was built, and the old
| church was used for Sunday school and
eventually sold to the school commission
| srs. The burning of that tabernacle in De-
cember, 1879, as the people were on their
way to the church is one of the recorded ca
lamities by fire that have happened in that
city. To the church which so lately had
recovered from bankruptcy in finances and
in numbers, it seemed q crushing blow, but
DIR. Talmage was not man to be defeated
by accidents, however calamitous, from the
call of duty. The glory of the second house
was greater than that of the first, and as a
larger tabernacle will yet have to be erected
if the overflow that is turned away every
Sunday is ever to be housed, so did the
present tabernacle, which was opened on
Washington's birthday, 1874, accommodate
many hundreds for whom its predecessor
had had no room.
DR.. Talmage lectured in this city some
years ago, and many of our people went to
hear him. Others of them have heard him
at the White Sulphur Springs. The fact
that he addresses an audience of 5000 peo-
pie every Sunday attests his greatness as an
orator.
| His whole bearing from the time he
makes his appearance, ascending the stairs
| to his place before the people, and through
out the services is said to be that of a rev.
erent, thoroughly earnest man.
''His voice is resonant but not musical,
yet strong and full and managed with such
skill as to send its thrilling tones into the
remotest parts of the auditory. Both his
matter and manner are evidently his own,
and both are made to produce wonderful
effects upon his hearers. Some times the
hush of death seems to pervade the house,
while tears are visible upon every cheek,
and anon the brightness of hope and the
sparkle of joy light up every eye. The
great themes of the Gospel applied to the
phases of everyday life form the staple of
his preaching"
"His command of words to illumine his
ideas is wonderful, while his imagination
weaves beauty into his sentences that
makes each sermon read like a prose-poem."
As will be seen in the sketch above, DR..
Talmage is Presbyterian"